Combination foldaway ironer and ironing board



Dec. 14, 1954 A. R. BAADE 2,697,020

- COMBINATION FOLDAWAY IRONER AND IRONING BOARD Filed April 12, 1951 v INVENTOR. Alma R. Baade BY x 0%,.

ATTORNEYS United States Patet COMBINATION FOLDAWAY IRONER AND IRON- ING BOARD Alma R. Baade, Cleveland, Ohio Application April 12, 1951, Serial No. 220,643

9 Claims. (Cl. 312-48) My invention relates to an automatic ironer in combination with an ironing board which can be folded as a unit into a small space and in which the ironer can be individually swung vertically out of position to permit use of the ironing board in the conventional manner.

While the automatic ironer has gained in favor and usefulness over the years, it is not a complete substitute for the hand iron, and a person owning an automatic ironer still has need of an ironing board with the attendant problems and nuisance of handling. The bulkiness of the automatic ironer plus the added space required to store and set up an ironing board is particularly objectionable in the so called efiiciency apartments in which the laundry and laundry equipment are made part of the kitchen. Use of an automatic ironer is often precluded by lack of space as well as the additional expense of such equipment.

It is the general object of my invention to avoid and overcome the foregoing and other dil'ficulties of and objections to prior art practices by the provision of a combination ironer and ironing board which is inexpensive, compact, rugged, and which has greater utility.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a combination ironer and ironing board which can be folded away into a small space.

Another object of my invention is to provide an ironer which is mounted at one end of an ironing board in such manner that the ironing board serves as a base and support for the ironer.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a folding support for the ironing board which is sturdy and rugged and which permits the ironing board with the associated ironer to be folded away in a vertical position in a relatively shallow cabinet.

Another object of my invention is to provide a pivoted support for the automatic ironer which permits the ironer to be independently swung into its vertical position relative to the ironing board when it is desirable to use the ironing board and not the ironer.

These and other objects of my invention which will become apparent as the description proceeds are achieved by r the provision of a foldaway ironer and ironing board combination including a storage cabinet and guides secured to the inner walls of the sides of the cabinet, these guides being substantially in the shape of a figure 7. Means associated with the ironing board adjacent one end adapted to travel along the guides. A supporting arm is pivotally secured at one end to the ironing board and at its other end to the cabinet. The arm is located below the ironing board and gives support to the board when it is in the horizontal position. The ironer and associated mechanism are pivotally supported from the ironing board adjacent the end nearest the cabinet with the ironer roll directed outwardly above and parallel to the ironing board. The ironer frame is pivotally secured to the ironing board so that the ironer can be tipped upwardly to a vertical position out of the way when the ironing board is in use for hand ironing.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figl is a side elevational view of the invention with the ironer and ironing board in operative position;

Fig. 2 is a side el'evati'onal' view ofthe apparatus of Fig. ljbut with the automatic ironer and associated mechanism tilted vertically out of operative position;

Fig. 3 is aside elevational view of the invention showing 2,697,020 Patented Dec. 14, 1954 the iron, ironing board, and automatic ironer folded up within the cabinet;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line IV--IV of Fig. 1 showing the pivotal support of the ironer base; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional View taken substantially on the line V-V of Fig. 1 showing the latching mechanism which secures the ironing board in the horizontal position.

With specific reference to the form of the invention illustrated, the numeral 10 indicates generally a metal cabinet or the like and secured to the inner walls thereof are guide members or tracks 12. The guide members are preferably channel-shaped in cross-section, and are formed substantially in the shape of a figure 7, that is, the upper portion 14 of the guide members extends horizontally rearwardly relative to the cabinet and then curves downwardly and forwardly of the cabinet as illustrated in the drawlilgS.

An ironing board 16 just slightly narrower in width than the space between the opposed guide members is provided and it has a slot 17 therein adjacent one end thereof. Secured at the edges on either side of the ironing board 16 and adjacent one end thereof are the brackets 18 and 2t). Welded or otherwise secured in the hole 22 through the bracket 18 is a hollow shaft member 24 on which is journalled a roller 26. A similar roller is carried by the bracket 20. The width of the ironing board 16 and associated brackets 18 and 20 is such that the overall width of the board and brackets is just slightly narrower than the distance between the two guide members 12 so that the rollers 26 carried by the brackets 18 and 20 gt within and are guided in the channels of the guide memers.

The ironing board is additionally supported by a support arm 28. Welded or otherwise secured in a T joint is a pivot tube 30 at the lower end of the supporting arm. The pivot tube 30 is rotatably anchored at each end to the sides of the cabinet 10 by means of bearing brackets 32. The other end of the support arm 28 is similarly welded or otherwise secured in a T joint to a second pivot tube 34 which is rotatably secured to ironing board by beating brackets 36.

When the ironing board 16 is in the horizontal position indicated in Fig. l, the rollers 26 are against the ends of the horizontal portion 14 of the guides 12'. To secure the ironing board in this position, a spring-actuated detent 33 slidably supported by the hollow shaft 24 engages a hole 40 in the inner face of one of the guide members so that when the roller reaches the upper end of the track, the detent 38 snaps into the hole 40 and anchors the ironing board in position. A handle 42 secured to the other end of the detent 38 preferably by means of a set screw 44 facilitates the manual release of the detent 38 from the hole 48 for folding the ironing board back into the cabinet 10.

A mangle type automatic ironer 46, having the usual reciprocating heated shoe 47 and having the mechanism and supporting frame 48 at. one end thereof, is provided and supported on the ironing board 16, the ironing board serving as a table or base for the ironer. Trip lever 49 actuates the ironer mechanism to open and close the shoe and start and stop the ironer roll in the usual manner. The shoe 47 is preferably supported and actuated from the mechanism and supporting frame 48 by means of an arm 51 extending parallel to the shoe along the back thereof. This permits an unobstructed space below and behind the ironer roll, and also permits the ironer to be supported on the ironing board at one end of the ironer, as shown.

The frame 48 is hinged to the ironing board by means of hinge pins which rotatably engage metal supporting brackets 52 carried by the ironing board 16. The ironer is held in operative position relative to the ironing board 16 by means of spring-actuated latch 54 which engages the base plate 48. By releasing the latch 54,v the ironer can be swung into the vertical positionv indicated in Fig. 2 where it is out of the way, permitting use of the ironing board for hand ironing; A. shelf 55 on the iIISi he cabinet. door may be provided as shown to support a hand iron when heating or not in use. An electric outlet 53 inside the cabinet permits permanent connection of the ironer and hand iron.

When the ironer and ironing board are not in use, they may be folded away within the cabinet 10 by releasing the detent 38 and pushing inwardly on the ironing board 116. This causes the rollers 26 to follow along the horizontal portion 14 of the guide members 12 and around and down the diagonal sloping portion thereof until the rollers reach the bottom end of the channels, at which time the supporting arm 28 and the ironing board 16 reach a vertical position as indicated in Fig. 3.

it will be appreciated from the above description that the objects of the invention have been achieved by providing an ironer in combination with an ironing board which can be folded up as a unit into a small space. The ironing board serves as a base for the ironer, but the ironer can be swung out of the way when it is desired to use the ironing board in the conventional manner. The result is a more compact, less expensive home laundry device having greater utility than the conventional ironer, particularly in homes having limited laundry space.

While, in accordance with the patent statutes, one best known embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it is to be particularly understood that the invention is not limited thereto or thereby, but that the scope of the invention is defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A foldaway support for an electric ironer including a base for the ironer in the shape of an ironing board, said ironer being hingedly secured to the base adjacent one end thereof, latch means on said base for releasably securing the ironer in operative position relative to the base whereby the ironer can be released and swung out of position, an enclosure for storing the ironer and base, said enclosure having parallel side portions spaced at slightly greater distance than the width of said base, channel-shaped guide members secured to the inner Walls of the enclosure side portions, said guide members extending horizontally rearwardly and diagonally downwardly and forwardly substantially in the shape of a figure 7, rollers adapted to travel in said channel-shaped guide members, said rollers being rotatably secured to the base at the side edges thereof adjacent the end hingedly supporting the ironer, a support arm, a transverse pivot arm rigidly secured at each end of the support arm, one of said pivot arms being pivotally secured between the side portions of the enclosure at a point below the guide members, 2

the other of said pivot arms being pivotally secured to the base substantially in the middle thereof, and locking means for releasably securing the base in a horizontal position, said locking means being carried by the base and engaging one of the guide members.

2. A foldaway support for an electric ironer including i a base for the ironer in the shape of an ironing board, said ironer being hingedly secured to the base adjacent an end thereof, latch means operatively connected between said ironer and said base for releasably securing the ironer in operative position relative to the base whereby the ironer can be released and swung out of position, an enclosure for storing the ironer and base, said enclosure having parallel side portions, guide members secured to theinner walls of the enclosure side portions, said guide members being substantially in the shape of a figure '7. rollers adapted to travel in said guide members, said rollers being rotatably secured to the base at the side edges thereof adjacent the end hingedly supporting the ironer, a support arm. a transverse pivot arm rigidly secured ateach end of the support arm, one of said pivot arms being pivotally secured between the side portions of the enclosure at a point below the guide member, the other of said pivot arms being pivotally secured to the base substantially in the middle thereof, and locking means for rele s blv securing the base in a horizontal position, said lockin means being carried by the base and engaging one of the guide members.

3. A foldaway support for an electric ironer including a base for the ironer in the shape of an ironing board having a slot therein, an ironer, means hingedly securing the ironer to the base adjacent said slot, latch meanson the base for releasably securing the ironer in operative position relative to the base whereby the ironer can be released and swung out of position down at least 4, partially through said slot, an enclosure for storing the ironer and base, said enclosure having parallel side portions, guide members secured to the inner walls of the enclosure side portions, said guide members being substantially in the shape of a figure 7, rollers adapted to travel in said guide members, said rollers being rotatably secured to the base, a support arm, a transverse pivot arm rigidly secured at each end of the support arm, one of said pivot arms being pivotally secured between the side portions of the enclosure at a point below the guide member, the other of said pivot arms being pivotally secured to the base substantially in the middle thereof, and locking means for releasably securing the base in a horizontal position, said locking means being carried by the base and engaging one of the guide members.

4. A foldaway support for an electric ironer including a base for the ironer in the shape of an ironing board, said ironer being hingedly secured to the base, latch means operatively connectable between the ironer and the base for releasably securing the ironer in operative position relative to the base whereby the ironer can be released and swung out of position, an enclosure for storing the ironer and base, said enclosure having parallel side portions, guide members secured to the inner walls of the enclosure side portions, said guide members being substantially in the shape of a figure 7, rollers adapted to travel in said guide members, said rollers being rotatably secured to the base, a support arm, a transverse pivot arm rigidly secured at each end of the support arm, one of said pivot arms being pivotally secured between the side portions of the enclosure, the other of said pivot arms being pivotally secured to the base, and locking means for releasably securing the base in a horizontal position.

5. A foldaway support for an electric ironer including a base for the ironer in the shape of an ironing board having a slot in one portion thereof, said ironer being hingedly secured to the base adjacent the slot, latch means for connectable between the base and the ironer for releasably securing the ironer in operative position relative to the base whereby the ironer can be released and a part of the ironer may be swung out of position through the slot, an enclosure for storing the ironer and base, and means foldably securing the base to the enclosure whereby the base and ironer can be folded away therein.

6. In combination, a hand ironing board, means mounting the board for movement between a storage position and a substantially horizontal working position, a mangle type automatic ironer, and means on the board mounting the ironer for movement between a horizontal working position above the board and a non-working position remote from a portion of the board, said lastnamed means including a frame hingedly secured to the board, the board having a hole therein in which the frame is received at least when the ironer is in its working position.

7. In combination, a hand ironing board having a slot therein, a mangle type automatic ironer, and hinge means on the board adjacent said slot mounting the ironer for movement between a horizontal working position above the board and a non-working position remote from a portion of the board, said hinge means swinging the ironer at least partially down through the slot when the ironer is in a non-working position.

8. A combination as in claim 7 wherein the said means includes a frame on the ironer, means securing the base pivotally to the board, and means for locking the ironer in operative relation to the board.

9. A combination as in claim 8 wherein the board has a hole in one portion thereof and the frame passes through the hole in moving to an inoperative position, the ironer being substantially vertically directed when inoperative.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 495,680 Mooers Apr. 18, 1893 1,121,092 Harris Dec. 15, 1914 1,134,662 Barber Apr. 6, 1915 1,287,311 Hibbs Dec. 10, 1918 1,687,765 Hedglon Oct. 16, 1928 2,478,531 Harris Aug. 9, 1949 

